ALS Pharmaceutical, one of the UK’s leading analytical testing laboratories, has welcomed the Growth Commission’s final report on the London-Stansted-Cambridgeshire corridor.

“These are very exciting times to be located in what is Europe’s answer to Silicon Valley,” says Sharon Hanly, General Manager of ALS Pharmaceutical, who are based in Ely (Cambridgeshire, UK). “The Growth Commission report launched in July makes the case for unleashing the potential of this major economic region, outlining a 20-year vision for the corridor that would see it become one of the top ‘knowledge regions’ in the world.”

The corridor’s gross value added (GVA) has grown 6.1% since the recession compared with the UK average of 3.7% and its productivity is 16% higher than the national average. It is also host to some of the country’s fastest growing towns and cities, accounting for 10% of England’s population growth.

“Ely is just 16 miles from Cambridge, and we are delighted to be one of the knowledge intensive companies located close to the city” says Hanly. Cambridge ranks as the top UK city for innovation, with 102 patents per 100,000 residents, more than the next seven best-performing cities put together.

“The Growth Commissioner says the region is already one of the most attractive locations in the UK for global investment in knowledge-based industries, and we know that from first-hand experience,” explains Hanly. “We’ve recently benefited from a combined investment of over £5m into our Ely and Chatteris labs from our global parent, ALS.”

“We’ve used that investment to expand our microbiology and chemical analysis services, adding also new stability trials chambers and a HEPA filtered laboratory. We have a great team of scientists, and we support many of the household names in the pharmaceutical, medical products and cosmetic industries, to help ensure their products meet the regulations required,” said Sharon.

“So this report is brilliant timing for us; first, because it outlines the worldwide opportunities for the UK’s life sciences industry and, secondly, because it comes just weeks before we officially open our new state-of-the-art premises, when we are inviting clients — both current and potential — to come and see the future themselves.”

Manufacturers of pharmaceutical, nutritional and cosmetic products can contact ALS directly for an invitation to the Open Day, which takes place on Wednesday 7 September.